Driving in Croatia vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for safe navigation. This comparison between Croatia and New Zealand reveals distinct contrasts: while Croatia drives on the right, New Zealand adheres to the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and emergency protocols further diverge, emphasizing the importance of being well-informed for a secure travel experience.
Lanes
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in New Zealand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
croatia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
croatia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay